Aalborg to test the newest wind turbines

Østerild will be a test centre for wind turbines. That chapter is over and now a number of prominent North Jutlanders are advocating drawing a test centre for the “0-series wind turbines” to Aalborg. They are doing so in an open letter to the Minister of the Environment, Climate and Energy, the environment and planning committee, the energy policy committee and the press. The plea has been printed as a debate contribution and report in the North Jutland newspaper Nordjyske Stiftstidende and can be read on the website of the Danish parliament, the Folketing.

The 0-series wind turbines are the name of the very first smaller series of a new type of wind turbine that will be tested in a challenging environment. The harbour’s spray fields at Nordjyllandsværket in Rærup and Vester Hassing are described by experts as obvious choices for the gigantic wind turbines. Here, the wind conditions vary because of the terrain’s rugged character. Hammer Hills, Limfjord and large cities such as Aalborg and Nørresundby provide the right conditions with heavy wind from different directions.

“Clearly, Aalborg should quickly and perseveringly announce its candidacy to host a test centre for this type of new wind turbine. It would benefit the region and all of Denmark, of course, if we allowed testing of the first wind turbines in a batch production”, write the nine signatories of the open letter.

The signatories are members of the Danish parliament, university researchers, businessmen and women, trade union, business organisations and the Port of Aalborg.

They point out that the area near Nordjyllandsværket is already set up for numerous industrial uses of a heavy nature and that the area is deserted by Danish standards – without being designated as nature worthy of preservation. It would entail only very few expropriations, and that discussion or debate, the signatories believe, might as well be addressed straight away.

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According to the latest figures from Windpower.org, turnover and employment in the wind turbine industry continues to grow. Total revenue for 2015 was thus 2.9% higher compared to 2014, while employment surged by 3.8% in the same period.

According to the Danish Wind Industry Association, 2015 was the best year for business in the wind turbine industry since the financial crisis and both turnover and employment has increased.

The study from May 2016 shows that 31,251 is employed by the industry in 2015, which represents an increase of 3.8% from the year before, and thus the growth from the previous few years continues. In terms of revenue stream, the numbers are also going in the right direction. From a total turnover for the industry of 85.2 billion DKK. in 2014, we are now experiencing an increase of the amount of 87.9 billion. DKK in 2015. This is equivalent to an increase of 2.9%, and comparing it to the numbers from 2010, the revenue for 2015 is 17.2% higher.

When looking at the Danish export, it saw the Danish Wind Turbine industry decline in 2015, where the total exports compared to 2014 was 10.7% lower. The explanation probably lies in the development in the European wind market, which in 2015 had set record wind power capacity. Such an increase may have resulted in a decrease in the need for imports of Danish wind power at a European level. However, export in the wind turbine industry in Denmark is still more than half of total revenue (55%).

Wind Power storming ahead in Europe In terms of capacity, Denmark is among nine European countries with a capacity of over 5 GW of installed wind power, the latest statement from EWEA (European Wind Energy Association). In the same list, Germany is by far the top with almost 45 GW, almost double that of Spain, with 23 GW sits on the second largest capacity. In 2015 there was in Europe invested 26.4 billion. Euro in wind energy development. This represents, according to EWEA’s survey, an increase of 40% compared to 2014 and looked at offshore capacity alone, the increase from 2014 to 2015 is twice as large as the previous period. It is therefore not surprising that EWEA’s study also shows that the total wind power capacity in 2015 have overtaken hydropower as the continent’s third most common form of energy; though still behind regarding coal and gas.

Parties from around the world interested in wind turbines were gathered Wednesday 4 March 2015 at Comwell Hotel Hvide Hus in Aalborg for the opening reception of the annual delegation trip prior to EWEA Offshore 2015.

Aalborg’s mayor Thomas Kastrup-Larsen opened the reception and welcomed the approximately 52 Danish and foreign guests, who for four days were visiting companies representing the top of the pop in the Danish wind turbine industry. The guests visited North Jutland companies such as Bladt Industries, the National Test Centre for Large Wind Turbines and Envision Energy, who are currently testing a two-blade wind turbine at the port of Thyborøn.

At the opening reception, the guests had the pleasure of meeting each other for the first time and despite the cultural differences, the room was buzzing when the guests chatted and networked with each other.

The opening reception was organized by Hub North who used the opportunity to promote the competences in North Jutland, the companies within the North Jutland wind turbine industry as well as the trade organization Danish Wind Industry Association, who organized the delegation trip.